Francesco Chicchi sprints to West-Vlaanderen stage one

Francesco Chicchi continued Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s dominance of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen - Johan Museeuw Classics - with a sprint victory to take the first stage between Brugge and Bellegem. After Michal Kwiatkowski’s victory in the previous day’s prologue, the Italian sprinter, who already has two stage victories in the Tour de San Luis this season, overpowered Wednesday’s Le Samyn victor, World under-23 champion Arnaud Démare (FDJ-BigMat), at the end of the 181.5km stage; with Said Haddou (Europcar) taking third.

The victory came after a long breakaway from Baptiste Planckaert (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), Stijn Neirynck (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Jeff Louder (UnitedHealthcare) was pulled back inside the final ten kilometres.

A crash in the final two kilometres brought down a number of riders, including sprinter Jimmy Casper (AG2R La Mondiale), cyclocross specialist Steve Chainel (FDJ-BigMat) and defending champion Jesse Sergent (RadioShack-Nissan); all managed to cross the line though, and, as the crash had happened with less than three kilometres to go, they were credited the same time.

“It was a chaotic sprint” said Chicchi. “I knew the final really well because I already won here six years ago.

“The sprint was slightly uphill,” he explained. “I was on the wheel of Démare. When he lauched his sprint at about 300 metres from the finish I gave it my best to pass him. It was really a head to head until the end, then I passed him in the last 50 metres.

“I’m very happy about this victory,” added the Italian. “It’s already the third in this season. I have to thank the team; they worked a lot today to defend the leadership of Kwiatkowski, thinking at the same time of putting me in the best condition possible for the sprint. I also did the first intermediate sprint to take some seconds from Michal’s competitors.

“We are really working great as a team,” he concluded. “I feel really comfortable in the team and I’m happy that, despite my disappointing 2011 season, the team continues to trust in me.”

After numerous attempts, it was 54km until Planckaert, Neirnynck and Louder were able to escape the clutches of the peloton. With Omega Pharma-Quick Step happy to let them soak up the bonus seconds at the two remaining intermediate sprints however, they were allowed to open up a lead of 4’28” after 100km.

With so many sprinters in the peloton though, there was no way that the trio was ever going to successfully stay away. Garmin-Barracuda and RadioShack-Nissan came forward - for Tyler Farrar and Robert Wagner respectively - to help Omega Pharma-Quick Step in the chase. Louder was dropped by the other two in the second of three 17.2km finishing circuits, and by the time they hit the bell they were just 34 seconds clear.

The two remaining riders were pulled back with 10km remaining, which inevitably led to a flurry of attempted counter moves; Omega Pharma-Quick Step had control of the front of the peloton though, and nobody was able to get clear.

A crash just before the flamme rouge disrupted the peloton a little, which saw fourth place Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Cervélo) unsuccessfully try to take get away. It was FDJ-BigMat that led the sprint out though, with Démare opening up a long sprint; Chicchi was tucked in behind the young Frenchman though, and managed to pull around his as the line approached.

Kwiatkowski still holds the race lead going into the third and final day.